Albemarle County’s Parks and Recreation Department is hard at work moving the Biscuit Run project forward. The County is currently working alongside the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to develop the property into a park for productive public use. VDOT will make needed road improvements for safe access to the park and DCR will coordinate with Albemarle County on the planning process to provide outdoor recreation facilities that best meet the needs of the citizens while protecting the park’s natural resources. All of this work is occurring with an eye towards a park that will provide recreational and educational opportunities for our community and visitors alike.

The park is currently not open to the general public. Only authorized users have access today, while work is underway to clear trails, post signage for park boundaries, and install a controlled access gate off of Route 20. Additionally, the County is researching the steps needed to gain funding for entrance/access through the VDOT Recreation Access Funds.

The next order of business is to update the park’s existing Master Plan and develop a path forward for implementation. A public kick-off meeting was held on Tuesday, June 19th at 6:00 p.m. at the County Office Building at 1600 5th Street, Charlottesville, VA. There, the public had an opportunity to learn more about the history and future of the project, review the State’s site assessment and concept plan, and provide input on amenities including park access, connectivity, programming, and trails. During the meeting, Albemarle County received valuable feedback from many residents. An online Feedback Form was open from Friday, June 22, 2018 to Friday, July 13, 2018. A second community meeting is was held on Wednesday, August, 22, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. at COB-5th. There, the public had the opportunity to see a draft design of the park and provide further feedback.

At the November 14, 2018 Board of Supervisor's work session the proposed Biscuit Run Park Master Plan and phasing options were presented. After the presentation and discussion, the Board then directed staff to return to the Board for a final public hearing to receive public comment. The public hearing is scheduled for December 12, 2018 at 6pm in the Lane Auditorium at the County Office Building (401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902). To review the presentation please visit: Biscuit Run Master Plan

BACKGROUND

Biscuit Run Park is a nearly 1200-acre property located in Albemarle County. The Commonwealth of Virginia acquired the property in 2009 under Governor Kaine’s administration. On January 4, 2018 Governor McAuliffe announced a partnership with Albemarle County to open Biscuit Run park to the public. Governor McAuliffe and DCR signed a 99-year lease with Albemarle County for the property. The park will be the first of its kind in Albemarle’s development area.

This new partnership will allow for the park to open sooner than expected and will provide high-quality recreational opportunities for Albemarle County and the surrounding communities. The lease was crafted to assure protection of the park’s natural resources. A minimum of eighty percent of the park will remain forested, all sensitive natural heritage resources will be protected, and management concerns like invasive species will be addressed.